Four indicted in theft from Baltimore Housing Authority

Tricia Bishop, The Baltimore Sun

Four people were indicted for allegedly defrauding the Baltimore Housing Authority out of $1.4 million by transferring funds out of the agency's account through a shell company, the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office announced Monday.

Daren Kareem Gadsden, 35, of Upper Marlboro; Tyeast Brown, 41, of Suitland; William Alvin Darden, 44, and Keith Eugene Daughtry, 50, both of Washington, D.C. were each charged with conspiracy in the indictment, which was returned Dec. 21 and unsealed Monday.

The defendants face a maximum of 30 years in prison if convicted, and a $1 million fine. The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of all illegal proceeds.

"The $1,399,700 stolen from the Baltimore Housing Authority was supposed to be used to provide housing, not to line the pockets of criminals," U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said in a statement.